Music and the Young Child
Having operated a successful Family Child Care in my home for
over 10 years, I have had many opportunities to introduce
various aspects of the Arts to young children. Being naturally
musical myself, providing a musical curriculum to my kids was a
simple and obvious way to enhance the daily activities of my
child care and my own children as well.
Children respond to music at a very young age. Nearly everyone
can remember their mother or grandmother singing nursery rhymes
to them as little children. I have vivid memories of swinging
outside and singing ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ as loudly as I could
just to hear the sound. With my own children I have always used
music to calm and entertain them; singing softly to them in the
rocker or energetically leading them in finger-plays and
sing-a-longs. However you may choose to do it, singing or
playing music with children gives them a beginnings of music
appreciation, not to mention the special memories that are
created.
My son is a wild and wholly two-year-old, and greatly affected
by his environment and the sounds and sights he encounters.
Getting out of control is very easy with this little boy, and
it’s up to me to find ways of calming him down and quickly
distracting him and hopefully changing his mood. Music affects a
child’s mood, and quiet, comforting music can relax an anxious
child. It’s amazing the way my son reacts to his special CDs
that he knows and enjoys. Often he’ll just stop what he is doing
and I’ll see him stand and look toward the stereo and just sway
and sing to himself.
Children will naturally relate movement with music giving them
the opportunity to explore their own creative expression. They
love to act out movements to the songs such as moving around the
room like different animals based on the type of sounds they
hear. They can explore how their bodies move and their physical
coordination begins to grow and develop as a result.
Music activities in group settings help children develop social
and interactive skills by sharing the activity with the other
children around them. They love to join hands and form circles
while singing simple nursery rhymes and dancing around together.
Friendships are made easily when children share musical
activities and even the shyest child can join in and become part
of the group.
Recommended Music for Young Children:
• Sing Dance and Play - Genius Products • Baby’s First: Animal
Songs - Various Artists) • Walt Disney Records : Children’s
Favorite Songs, Vol. 1 : 25 Classic Tunes - Disney Cast) • Best
of the IQ Builder [2001] - Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), et
al • Children’s Songs [2001] - Genius Products • Sesame Street
Platinum: All Time Favorites (Blister Pack) - Sesame Street •
Baby’s First: Playtime Songs - Various Artists • Magic Mozart
(Baby Genius Classical Series) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Composer) • Favorite Nursery Rhymes - Genius Products •
Favorite Children’s Songs [Box] - Genius Products • Baby’s
First: Nursery Rhymes - Various Artists • Toddler Favorites -
Favorites Series • Night Night Classics - Ludwig van Beethoven
(Composer), et al • Sweet Dreams Lullabies [2001] - Genius
Products
Introducing music to young children will provide them with a
foundation to help develop language and listening skills, along
with enhanced coordination and emotional development. Little
children love to express themselves through music and given the
opportunity, will reap the benefits of a lifetime of music
appreciation.
